Taking Twitter on the Road with You

One of the things I like so much about Twitter is how easy it is to use it when I don’t have access to my desktop computer or laptop. As long as I have my trusty PPC with me I can use Twitter. I don’t even need to have access to Wi-Fi because it’s just as fast on EVDO. That means that I can be just about anywhere; in my car; at the ballet (don’t tell my wife); on a boat; walking down the street; or sitting in a Starbucks cafe, and I can use Twitter.

It’s definitely easier to use Twitter on a PPC with a slide out keyboard like mine, but it works just fine on any web enabled mobile phone and even ordinary cell phone users can post tweets by sending an SMS message.

I think that Twitter really shines when people use it on the road, away from their computers. When exciting news happens, like the recent Hudson River plane crash or the terrorist attack in Mumbai or when @LanceArmstrong had his time trial bike stolen, anyone with a mobile phone and a Twitter account becomes a live, on-the-scene reporter. Throw in the use of a camera phone and TwitPic and not only can we read about what’s happening but we can see it too.

Of course lots of interesting things happen when we’re not at our computers that aren’t necessarily news stories but might still be of interest to our followers. When @StephenFry was recently trapped for a short time in an elevator his followers were treated to a very funny blast of tweets. He also picked up about 100,000 new followers while he was doing it.

For those of you that still don’t quite get Twitter, don’t bore us what you’re having for dinner, tell us about the waiter that just dumped a plate of spaghetti on your girlfriend, or better yet, post a pic on TwitPic. Don’t tell us when you’re getting on a plane for SXSW and then tweet that you’re back when you get home, tell us what you’re doing and show us pictures while you’re there.

There are many mobile Twitter apps available but since I don’t own an iPhone I can’t tell you first hand which one is the best for that device, but I can tell you that I’ve tried all of the ones available for Windows Mobile devices and hands down, the best is PocketTwit.